Crew in tough spot after Warzycha's gamble | The Columbus Dispatch

All I can say is WOW. I am a casual observer of the Crew and soccer in general. I like watching the World Cup and larger international tourneys, but football and basketball is my bread and butter, with some baseball to bridge the gap. While Mr. Arace skillfully explained the rationale for this roster "strategy", I just cannot fathom being a blood sworn Crew supporter and watching this happen. What in God's green earth could reasonably explain sitting your most dynamic player? Who cares if you escape 1-0 or 0-0 and try to fall back on the other teams paltry road record! Here's an idea to help with the aggregate score: WIN BOTH GAMES!! Even if the ridiculous strategy works, you still get eliminated if you lose by a goal or two at home. It is a premise this bad, this flawed, that keeps the more casual soccer observer from getting behind the sport on a more full time basis. I get pissed just reading this defeatist nonsense, and I only half care. Hope the pints were cold for everyone that gathered at the pub to watch that nonsense. This sounds like something the Browns would do. That of course is not a good thing.

As a Crew fan Im more than worried that this move not only cost us the game, the series and our 2nd Straight Cup, but also ruined the future of Guillermo with the Black and Gold. And Zach, you are correct. This stinks like a Cleveland move.

what happens if the crew wins by 1 in the next game?

As a multiple season Crew ticketholder and fan of the sport, I share the author's disbelief in the Coach's strategy. While it is fine on paper, given the way the team has been playing the last few games of the season, it was not a risk that should have been taken. I too am afraid that on Thursday, we will not score the two goals necessary to continue on in the playoffs and that will lie squarely on the shoulders of the Coach.

tuno wrote:

what happens if the crew wins by 1 in the next game?

It can't end in a tie, so it should go into overtime to decide a winner. That's the issue with an aggregate scoring system.

As a loyal season ticket holder and an avid fan of MLS soccer in general I have to disagree with Mr. Arace. In fact, I think his coach bashing strategy simply stems from the central ohio process of though that when our teams lose it is always the coaches fault. This should not be the attitude we take to our crew. The strategy implemented by Coach Warzycha in trying to solidify a defensive team in order to get the all important road tie is used all over the league. In a league unlike the EPL where away goals count the same as home goals, this thinking is used year after year in the MLS. I think something people are also forgetting is that upon our last trip to Rio Tinto we got embarrassed in a 4-1 loss. I believe that giving up a late goal to lose 1-0 on this go around is a much better result and also gives our team an excellent chance to win. Maybe no one remembers that when RSL game to Columbus we beat them 3-1. We have put ourselves in a fine place to win Thursday's game by 2 goals and advance. I assume GBS will be in the starting lineup Thursday, the Nordeke will electric, and the Crew will come away with the result we all hope for. Go Crew

Let me preface this by saying first I am a RSL season ticket holder and I attended the first game at Rio Tinto! I was very surprised by crew coach Warzycha's decision to bench your 2 star players! I think the crew's defenseive strategy was the correct choice for the game plan, especially considering RSL's league leading + goal differential, but the crew needed to keep it's offensive fire power in the game! Tonight's game should be an all out war and you can count on the Claret and Cobalt to come in fighting! No one picked RSL to win this series, but it would sure be nice to oust the defending champs in the opening round!

Looks like keeping gbs on the bench for the Crew backfired! Gutty comeback win by RSL!